Political Science and Government at University of Wisconsin-Superior

Political science degrees in Wisconsin typically produce first-year earnings around $38,600, which places peer programs slightly above the national median but well below the state's top performers. At UW-Superior, where actual graduate outcomes aren't publicly reported due to small cohort sizes, you're looking at estimated debt of $23,700 against these peer-program earnings—a manageable 0.61 ratio, though the estimated figures mean you can't be certain what this school's specific graduates achieve.

What matters here is the gap between peer programs: Wisconsin's highest earners in this field start around $42,000, suggesting a $3,000-4,000 annual difference that compounds over time. That spread isn't enormous, but for a bachelor's in political science—where graduate school often follows and career paths vary widely—every dollar of starting salary matters. The relatively light debt load helps, particularly compared to programs where students borrow $30,000 or more, but you're still financing a degree without concrete evidence of what UW-Superior's own graduates accomplish in the job market.

The practical question is whether you're comfortable making this investment based on statewide averages rather than school-specific track records. If your child is considering law school or public service careers where prestige matters less than cost control, the modest debt could work in your favor. But if maximum earning potential is the goal, the larger UW campuses show measurably stronger outcomes—and unlike here, they have the data to prove it.